Molybdenum is utilized across various industries due to its exceptionally high melting point, low thermal expansion, and high thermal conductivity.

This element does not naturally occur as a free metal on Earth; it is found in minerals in different oxidation states. In its free form, molybdenum is a silvery metal with a grey cast and has the sixth-highest melting point of all elements. It easily forms hard, stable carbides when alloyed, which is why approximately 80% of the world’s molybdenum production is used in steel alloys, including high-strength and superalloys.

While most molybdenum compounds have low solubility in water, molybdenum-bearing minerals can form the soluble molybdate ion (MoO2−4) when in contact with oxygen and water. Industrially, molybdenum compounds, accounting for about 14% of global molybdenum production, are employed in high-pressure and high-temperature applications as pigments and catalysts.